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Topic Review (Newest First)

07-03-2007 11:19 PM

LaPlaya

Helping hands

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

You've accidentally volunteered yourself to be his sailing mentor... you do realize that don't you??

Yes Sailing dog... I was a little worried about that after I had opened my BIG mouth...Damn that helpful nature...lol On the plus side I am self employed and often away, gone 2morrow for 2 weeks...lol how convenient.
AL

USCG
Where did he launch the boat from?
Wife
I dunno
USCG
What type of vehicle is he driving?
Wife
A white Ford p/u truck.
USCG
What is the trucks tag number?
Wife
Dunno
USCG
When was he to return?
Wife
Not sure.
What kind of boat does he have?
Wife
A fishing boat.
USCG
What's the boat's reg. numbers?
Wife
Dunno
etc...etc...you get the picture!
USCG can use all the help it can get. If you see a SAR case waiting to happen, get any info you can and pass it on. It could save thousands of taxpayer dollars.

07-03-2007 02:56 PM

Valiente

Quote:

Originally Posted by primerate84

What was my responsibility in this situation?

Your responsibility is to render assistance if needed on the high seas, or lake, or whatever. You can't babysit Captain Darwin and his award-winning crew from the dock, nor, frankly, should you.

07-03-2007 11:31 AM

hellosailor

I think I'd have dropped a dime to the local USCG and said "I have reason to believe a manifestly unsafe craft, crewed by possible drunks, is going to attempt an unsafe voyage. You may want to be on the lookout for the vessel ### departing ### harbor en route for ###."

BWI endangers us all. Saving fools from drowning...not my job, but I'd rather send the USCG out to impound a docked craft, than scramble an expensive SAR mission 48 hours later.

If they're sober and the boat is safe, the USCG will be gone in a half hour. If there's a problem, at least it will be mitigated.

07-03-2007 11:07 AM

JT1019

Every time I hear stories like this I feel better about myself. I know I have done stupid things before but I never endanger the lives of my friends, crew, local rescue teams, or coast guard. I often find myself calling the Coast Guard to inform them of dangerous situations. The response I always get is a THANK YOU. Even if just a mark on the screen if they have a point of reference should something go really wrong it makes a world of difference. Think of it this way; the moron next to you goes out for the first time in force 8 winds and has no clue what he is doing. If you fill the Coast Guard in on the situation they can track him all the way or they can board and perform a safety inspection. No matter how it turns out they are always there to help.

Dongreerps-I completely agree with you and yes I do contribute to my local emergency services both in time and money.

SEMIJim-No worries, I figured as much.

07-03-2007 10:50 AM

SEMIJim

Quote:

Originally Posted by mstern

It was indeed in the New Haven, Ct area; ...

*ARGH*! Got mstern mixed-up with the OP. Disregard my prior comments.

Jim

07-03-2007 10:45 AM

CBinRI

This reminds me of a guy I met in Wickford a couple of years ago. He had just bought an old Cal 34 and was pleased with the price he paid (6k, maybe?). He invited me aboard and showed me the work he had done that day and told me of his plan to sail it to the Cape the next day by himself. Only problems were that he had never run the engine (Atomic 4, I think) and had never sailed a boat with a jib before. He asked me a bunch of questions about how to rig and use the "front sail."

He was a nice guy and not a kid but eccentric. He did have a beer in his hand throughout. I'm not the most experienced sailor in the world but this guy made me feel like Joshua Slocum. He asked me for help bending the sails on and I gave it to him. He had no GPS but did have charts. Among other things, I strongly urged him to take a sea trial, at the least, and asked him if he knew anybody more experienced who could accompany him. He said no one could make it and he had to get it back by Monday, or something like that. He did not seem to be worried about the trip at all.

I mentioned his plan to the yard manager who merely rolled his eyes and suggested that this type of venture by a new owner was not all that uncommon. In a day or two I started feeling guilty about aiding and abetting his plan. I even tried to track him down through information to call him a few days later to see how the trip went but couldn't find a number for him near his destination. (I can now remember neither his name nor town.) But I never read or heard anything bad and am assuming that he is still with us. Maybe I'm just too much of a nervous Nellie.

07-03-2007 10:23 AM

dongreerps

One theme running through this thread is the thought that the CG or the cops are the bad guys, and reporting the inexperienced would be acting like a snitch. Having worked in emergency rooms for decades, it was inevitable to get to know the local cops. Most of them really are good guys. Most of them would rather help someone out than bust them. If Primerate84 had known a couple of CG or cops as friends, the call would have been easy.
I encourage all to get to know the locals. It may well be worth the effort. Lot differerent calling a friend for help than a stranger. You do contribute to the local volunteer fire department don't you?

07-03-2007 10:04 AM

JT1019

MSTERN---
YES Fred was my boat! As soon as I read your story I knew that we were thinking of the same guys. I came to find Fred through the New Haven Yacht Club as the boys could not afford a mooring and were sitting on and visitors mooring. Long story short I came out to look at the boat and found a host of rigging mistakes (things they changed and should not have) as well as some major safety issues. The redeeming quality of the boat was the 2004 Nissan 9.9 outboard and to be realistic thatís the only reason I wanted her. I got the package for $1,000.00 and sailed her from the yacht club to Deep River on a Thursday morning. After a nice late summer of sailing I pulled her during the really bad flooding in early fall of 2005. Dome damage was done due to the mooring going under so I made repairs and left her on the hard for the winter with a small for sale sign. Over 50 people made offers and I ended up selling her to a contractor from Mississippi who was working in long island sound on one of the underwater cables. He picked up Fred in April of 2006 and sailed her until December of 2006 when he gave her to some sailing academy on Long Island.
As far as the boys go I did learn a great deal about them by what I found on the boat. Many handles of liquor and about 100 beers were left on the boat. I also found a disposable camera so I had it developed to see what I could find. Turns out they sailed to Long Island and made some kind of half-assed attempt to sail through The Race and to Block. From what the pictures show they never made it and turned back due to wash over the bow. Iím guessing by the color of their faces they were all drunk and not ready for something like The Race. I donít believe they sailed it again after that.
I should send you some pictures of the boat that I took before I sold her. She cleaned up really well and was a wonderful boat for sailing the edges of the CT River. Regretfully she was one of many and I just could not take good enough care of her and still find time to keep the girlfriend happy. Where do you sail out of? Iím currently in Deep River CT sailing an Irwin 33.

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